For ca. 10 years the Burnet church has partially supported a Mexican preacher, bro. Higinio Arreola, as he worked for the Lord in Cuauhtemoc, Chihuahua, and elsewhere. I visited with him in 1965; and he sends us a monthly report. Bro. Mack Kercheville visits Mexico frequently, and keeps us informed of major developments; but our elders felt a need to “see for themselves” and establish closer personal relationships with our brethren south of the border. (Burnet elders do not oversee any but the flock at Oaks-West, 1 Pet. 5:2, but want to be responsible stewards of funds they spend on behalf of this church.) So, we planned a trip to Mexico, Jan. 28-f. Bros. Collins (elder), Ross, Shipley, and I drove to El Paso, where we added Mack Kercheville to the party as interpreter and guide. We spent two days in Cuauhtemoc, 306 miles So. and W. of El Paso. This is high (ca. 6,000 ft.) dry country, used for cattle, with some dry-land and irrigated farming of grain, beans, and fruit. A good hotel provided food and lodging, but next time I’ll drive my truck so we can wander farther from pavement. Bro. Arreola has baptized 35 since beginning here, but deaths (physical and spiritual) and movings have kept the local church small. There is hope that two families, in separate, far-removed communities, will begin new works

there. An adobe meeting place has been built; and Arreola preaches via radio each Saturday morning. He traded his motorcycle for a cow, so must walk to prospects. We plan to make mimeo. publications possible, so he can enlarge his field of work. And, we asked bro. Collins to give you his impression of our southern neighbors: The recent trip to Mexico was most enjoyable to me since I had never been down into the interior. I only wish more people from the U. S., and more especially the Christians at Oaks-West church in Burnet, could see for themselves the interest those brethren have in people’s souls. We visited in some of the Christian’s homes. They had so little compared to what we are accustomed to seeing in this country. One home had only two rooms: one they used to cook and eat in; the other for bedroom— and they had five children. Instead of building more room for themselves, they built a church building on the remainder of their small lot. We also noticed their hospitality. In each home we were in they wanted to serve us coffee or cold drinks, which they did. It was a real pleasure for me to visit them. V. N. Collins  [Previous Article] [Next Article]

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